The schools will be feeders to the new Bohunt School Wokingham, which opens its doors to its first students in September this year.

Their day with 3M included interactive tours of the Customer Innovation Centre and careers events with employees.

The schools' trip was designed to help pupils with the transition between primary and senior school, to show how science plays a part in so many aspects of everyone's lives and to bring across the creative ethos and high expectations of the new school.

Said Ben Godber, the headteacher of Bohunt School Wokingham: "3M is a science-based company with a deep culture of innovation, mirroring the aspirations we have for our schools.

"By visiting 3M today we hope to have inspired our pupils and excite them about the prospect of joining us at the start of the new school year. From what I saw today, we have certainly achieved that."

3M is a sponsor this year of British Science Week, which has been run for more than two decades by the British Science Association to inspire and facilitate a grassroots celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths.

Richard Howgill, brand manager at 3M commented: "Being involved with British Science Week represents a great opportunity for us to share our passion for changing lives through science.